Brady: Americans deserve real change

This week, citizens and representatives of the greatest democracy on Earth gather in Washington, D.C., to complete yet another peaceful transfer of power to a new executive.

With Donald J. Trump's inauguration, America's voters have installed a unified Republican government dedicated to getting our divided, slumping nation back on the right track.

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The unpopular Affordable Care Act continues to hurt more people than it helps. Yet, in a last-ditch effort to coerce more Americans to buy unaffordable health care, President Obama unleashed the IRS to target 7.5 million Americans who chose to reject the far-too-expensive coverage.

Last week, Congress voted to approve a budget that begins the process to repeal the taxes, mandates and Washington bureaucracy of ObamaCare. Over the weeks and months ahead, Congress will take a careful, deliberate step-by-step approach toward the affordable health care Americans deserve. The Ways & Means Committee that I lead will play a key role in this historic effort.

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When it comes to the three C's - cost, coverage and choice – the ObamaCare experiment has failed the American people. Just listen to my constituents tell their real stories.

Cheryl from Montgomery now pays four times more a month for a high deductible health care plan. Before ObamaCare, her affordable plan had a $1,000 deductible.

Claire from Lovelady wrote me that after her premiums skyrocketed and she lost in-network access to her doctors. She was forced to choose what she describes as an "apocalypse care act" plan that costs as much as a home mortgage.

Today, Elizabeth from Conroe pays several hundred dollars a month yet still isn't able to see her primary care doctor or take her kids to their own pediatrician.

After being forced into ObamaCare, Jason from Huntsville now pays nearly 10 times more for health insurance just so his pregnant wife can see a doctor in their home county.

Lauren from The Woodlands retired with affordable private insurance, but still lost access to the local doctors and hospitals she counted on as her high deductible premiums soared nearly 70.

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ObamaCare fails when it comes to coverage. Michael from Magnolia was told he'd have to pay 70 percent more for a mediocre coverage HMO. Since he's self-employed, he wrote me that he will become one of the people with no health coverage.

Craig from The Woodlands always had health insurance for his family, but ObamaCare forced them to change plans and he doesn't know how they are going to get much needed cancer care.

As one of my constituents told me, what is happening is a crime. Families could buy a new car or afford housing for what annual premiums now cost.

Next week America will mark a solemn anniversary. In the 41 years since the U.S. Supreme Court's divided Roe v. Waderuling, over 60 million babies have never been born.

One of my first acts of this new Congress is passing HR 354 to stop all federal funding to Planned Parenthood. We are a great country. Whether pro-choice, or strongly pro-life as I am, we can all agree to stop using your tax dollars to target the innocent unborn.